What is the average Top Data Scientist salary for Santa Cruz, CA?
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As of April 01, 2026, the average Top Data Scientist salary in Santa Cruz, CA is $302,454. The chart below represents localized salaries for some of our most popular Top Data Scientist job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Salaries can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, including position, location, years of experience, and level of education. Salary.com’s team of Certified Compensation Professionals analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to compile a range of salaries for various Top Data Scientist job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Apply your personal criteria to one of the job titles below to get your personalized salary estimate.
Top Data Scientist Salaries in Santa Cruz, CA
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Data Scientist IV | $176,911 | $85.05 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Scientist II | $117,671 | $56.57 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Scientist III | $145,164 | $69.79 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Scientist I | $93,488 | $44.95 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Scientist V | $209,834 | $100.88 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Scientist VI | $256,218 | $123.18 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Chief Data Scientist | $455,948 | $219.21 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Marketing Data Analyst II | $98,667 | $47.44 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Marketing Data Analyst III | $121,548 | $58.44 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
| Data Analyst I | $82,578 | $39.70 | Santa Cruz, CA | April 01, 2026 |
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. Typically requires a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. Data Scientist IV Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst IV, Data Scientist IV
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. May require a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Data Scientist II Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst II, Data Scientist II
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. May require a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Data Scientist III Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst III, Data Scientist III
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. May require a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Data Scientist I Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst I, Data Scientist I
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. Typically requires a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience. Data Scientist V Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst V, Data Scientist V
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Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. Typically requires a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Typically requires 12+ years of related experience. Achievement and depth of knowledge of specialization or field is the main differentiator. Advisory role on complex and challenging projects and initiatives. Recognized for deep technical and industry knowledge and innovative thinking. Provides thought leadership and guidance to a functional area and the organization. Data Scientist VI Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Big Data Analyst VI, Data Scientist VI
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Develops the vision, strategy, and resources to execute and support an organization's long-term, short-term, and mission-critical goals. Provides the organization with data insights, analytics, and tools to achieve business goals, foster innovation, and promote data-driven decision-making. Leads the design and implementation of big data solutions for an organization, ensuring technical specifications, requirements, and applications are effectively communicated and understood by stakeholders. Researches and adopts emerging technologies and methods to continuously improve analytic capabilities and enhance capacity to provide valuable results. Requires a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). C-Suite level management. Develops functional or business unit strategy for an organization. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve organizational goals. Defines vision, strategy, and focus for a major functional or business unit. Substantial experience with setting key metrics like KPIs or OKRs and shaping plans to meet objectives. Typically requires progressive leadership experience in senior management roles. Has expert level knowledge of the overall departmental function. Demonstrated experience in developing and executing long term business strategies. Chief Data Scientist Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Chief Data Science Officer, Chief Data ScientistCategories : Executive and Management , IT - All , IT - Executive, Consulting , Science and Research
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Analyzes and interprets marketing data to support strategic decision-making and drive business objectives. Develops data mining architectures and methodologies to collect, clean, and analyze large datasets for insights into market trends and consumer behavior. Utilizes programming languages, statistical modeling, and advanced analytics to interpret unstructured data into actionable marketing insights. Ensures data collection, analysis, and reporting activities comply with data integrity standards and privacy regulations. Collaborates with marketing, product development, and other business functions to ensure alignment between data insights and business strategies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Marketing Data Analyst II Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Marketing Data Scientist II, Marketing Data Analyst IICategory : Marketing
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Analyzes and interprets marketing data to support strategic decision-making and drive business objectives. Develops data mining architectures and methodologies to collect, clean, and analyze large datasets for insights into market trends and consumer behavior. Utilizes programming languages, statistical modeling, and advanced analytics to interpret unstructured data into actionable marketing insights. Ensures data collection, analysis, and reporting activities comply with data integrity standards and privacy regulations. Collaborates with marketing, product development, and other business functions to ensure alignment between data insights and business strategies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Marketing Data Analyst III Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Marketing Data Scientist III, Marketing Data Analyst IIICategory : Marketing
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Supports operations and conducts data analytics projects to provide information and insights to stakeholders for decision-making or solution development. Implements data standards and deploys automation tools to extract, synthesize, and validate data from different sources and transform data into usable metrics. Constructs data sets, monitors data quality, troubleshoots and resolves database issues to ensure data integrity. Utilizes scripting and querying tools like Python, R or SQL, data visualization/BI tools, statistical methods, and data modeling to produce reports, data files, and dashboards. Collaborates with stakeholders to understand their needs, objectives, and requirements. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, a quantitative field or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Data Analyst I Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Data Analytics Analyst I, Data Analyst I